Jack's first haircut

Lately, I’ve really enjoyed listening to books on tape and my choices of listening material has run the gamut from a historical book called No Ordinary Time which is about FDR to Dean Koontz to the latest Dan Brown release, the Lost Symbol.

In mid-August, I drove over to Grand Junction, Colorado, and enjoyed the scenery while being thoroughly entertained with a good book! Grand Junction was great. I participated in a half-day retreat aimed at bringing together nonprofits and agencies who help serve youth. Best practices and gaps in service were featured and discussed at length (see some pictures from that visit). I attended a BBQ at a fellow Commissioners house that overlooked the mesa and the surrounding mountains. It was beautiful to say the least. Then I attended an AmeriCorps graduation on the western slope. On the last day of the intense two-day visit, I was elected as chair at the meeting and promptly started on a work plan to engage the Commissioners during my year of service. I’m very excited to help the state and its citizens in this regard!

In another first for the family, Jack had his first haircut prior to leaving for Washington, D.C., and the beach. He loved it - - can’t you tell??












Jack's First Haircut Video - It's not long as I felt so bad for him

The boys and their mouths

In early August, Papa had the pleasure of playing with Liza in Boulder, Colorado, for an all ages show. Eban was so excited and even brought his own guitar so he could play. Well, it didn’t work out so well as Eban wanted to crash the stage. Jack was fine, but our little artist wasn’t happy being in the audience. Check out the below picture of Eban attempting to crash the stage.

Eban also went on a “floatie” behind the Rehm’s speedboat this summer. I thought he’d be scared but he was crammed in between Megan and Avery and did wonderfully going around the lake 6 times or so.I didn’t have my camera but I had my camera after he got off with the girls hugging him as he was so brave!

Grandpa Morgan and I took the boys to Tiny Town up past Morrison, Colorado, one weekend in August. They loved the train (go figure) and loved peering into all the little homes/businesses they have at eye level for the kids. We had to leave on a whim as Eban wouldn’t stop going into the Tiny Town store and yelling, “I want that!” So I eventually had to put him in a football hold and walk him and Jack out of there. Poor Jack was guilty by association and had to leave the fun but Eban didn’t understand why he just couldn’t have the toys he wanted from the store. Grandpa understood why we had to leave so soon, but I want to teach these kids parameters and respect. Hopefully they’ll understand this sooner rather than later!


Grandpa left us and we headed up the mountain a bit more as a colleague of mine lives up there on some land. We showed up to be greeted by two goats. Then the fun began and Eban was able to help Vinnie bring his llamas in from the pasture. The llamas weren’t interested in me whatsoever - - they were completely intrigued by the boys. Eban ventured out to the llamas with no problem, but Jack stayed near me and talked about the big dogs. I kept explaining to Jack that they were llamas and not dogs. I don’t know if he ever got it. It was a fun little outing!

Did I tell you about Eban’s mouth and our neighbors? I can’t remember if I did so I’ll tell you these two stories which showcase what we’re in for with Eban. This summer, our neighbors were riding their bikes and Eban and Jack were riding their little bikes. We all stopped to chat and Eban cocked his head to the side and told our six-year old neighbor that she should take off her helmet because she’s prettier without it. I could have passed out I was so embarrassed.

On another bike riding day, Eban fell off his Hot Wheels bike into our yard in front of another girl. So as we were walking to him he told us he was okay. But he continued laying in the yard all sprawled out. As we got closer and the girl got further away, we asked him what he was doing. He proudly looked up at us and said he was showing off. We repeated incredulously, “You were showing off??” And he smiled broadly and said, “YES, and she LOVED it!” Another moment where we realized we are going to be in trouble in the future.

Jack functions as a mini-me of Eban. He repeats his words, repeats his actions, and repeats his facial expressions. Jack is slowly not using his pacifier as much which is great and he’s becoming more verbal. He now understands the “MINE” game which all parents know. The fighting that ensues after the word “mine” is impressive for two young boys. I envision many broken things in my future thanks to their thick-headed “mine” games.

New Park and Nani Came to Visit Again!

Our neighborhood finally has a new park. It’s a big structure at the top of the hill and it overlooks DIA, the front range and the skyline of Denver. It’s so pretty and a great park where the boys play. We walk up there a lot and we certainly get our exercise as it’s all uphill.

In early August, Nani came to visit for a week!! It was great to see her and the boys instantly bonded with her. They continuously jumped on her, abused her and loved her. She was an absolute trooper. We visited several pools and we visited the Orchard Shopping Center where the boys had to ride the choo-choo train all over the place.

Nani met Harriet and immediately loved her. She can’t believe we have another big dog in the house. It’s simply chaotic as noted by the pictures below!

On one of the days she was here, we headed up to Estes Park where we were judges at Eagle Rock School. Dan Condon, my friend from my Camp Cheley and Camp Heartland days, invited me to serve on a panel to help the students with their final assessments of the term. The students, each trimester, present what they’ve learned to community members in a structured format that suits their learning style. Nani and I took part in that and it was an interesting day and I was so impressed by the unique curriculum model they employ. If I were only younger - - I’d happily undo my tent and move there and work there. That’s how impressed I was! Nani and I laughed as we went down the hill as every time she comes to town, we are participating in some sort of volunteer work. I’m sure she wants a vacation and instead I’m taking her with me so she can also give back in some capacity. She laughs about this fact!



Nani on the phone on the choo choo train

Rocky Mountain Arsenal

The weekend after Chicago, I had a play date with my friend Susan and her son, Nathan, and the boys. We went to the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge in Commerce City – just a couple of miles northeast of the city of Denver.

We got there with time to spare although you wouldn’t have known it from my mad driving skills in my sexy minivan. I thought we were going to be late for the hayride so I gunned it a little too fast for my “momma mobile”. As we walked up to a little wildlife museum in the middle of nowhere, we read about the history of the arsenal. Like any arsenal, it contained weapons and most importantly, it was the home of the making of chemical weapons like mustard gas and others. It was also once the home of pesticides and they’ve been working hard to clean it up. Interesting place to say the least and I certainly didn’t fully educate myself as to where I was taking the boys - - I just saw hayride and thought that would be a fun, free event!

The boys loved watching the bees’ nest and love the snake too. They loved the hayride even though we had one of the most inarticulate young park rangers from the arsenal. Poor thing couldn’t piece two words together and as I sat in front, I filled in his gaps with words. I’m sure he didn’t appreciate that nor the other 10 folks on the ride but the pregnant pauses and the five minute ums were driving me crazy!

Enjoy the wildlife pictures - - you can see raccoons, birds of all shapes and sizes, prairie dogs, deer, buffalo and a two-day old buffalo, and the last picture in the bunch is the Colorado state bird in a flock (they are called the lark bunting and it was the first time the rangers had seen them in the park this season). It was a unique outing and then we headed over to Susan’s for grub as Eban didn’t want to go home. He wanted to play at Susan’s house. Nice.



At the end of July, I also had my last softball game with the Broomfield United Methodist Church league. The co-ed team was a ton of fun and I'm so glad my neighbor, Sandy, convinced me to play. I signed up for fall ball so I'm looking forward to that. Here's a pic of the team at the last game that went into triple overtime.

Chicago Part II

The day after the wedding was beautiful. Uncle Steve came up on his motorcycle and wore his helmet, which Eban said was very good. We went to the park where Eban got in a tad bit of trouble as we heard some loud kid chatter and then Eban screaming BE NICE TO ME! I had to run up into this three-story structure all scrunched over to see what the fuss was about and on my way up, I passed a four or five year old boy crying saying that a boy punched him. Eban was calmly walking behind him and I exclaimed and pointed to him, “THAT BOY?” The crying kid said yes. I immediately told Eban to say sorry. So he grumbled off a little I’m sorry when a camp counselor came into the structure and said she would handle it. She took the crying kid and I took my kid. So I got down on his level and looked at Eban and asked him why he punched him. Eban said that the boys weren’t being nice to him and wouldn’t let him play. He asked to play again and the boys wouldn’t let him pass or get on the slide. Some words were exchanged and it got more heated and Eban started screaming BE NICE TO ME and Eban lost it and punched the little boy. Now, I don’t know how hard but I know the boy wasn’t injured…just very rattled.

So I had to have a conversation about using your words when things like that happen, not fists or violence.

Then he had a meltdown in the Deerfield Library in the kid’s section. A little boy came in and wanted to play with the trains so I told Eban to give the cute boy half of his trains. This little lesson in sharing didn’t go as planned and he erupted in fits of tears and screaming. So I pulled him over to a corner in the kid’s section to have a little talk and while we were heading there, he kicked off his shoes. So as I was on his level talking about sharing, a door opened abruptly right behind me. There stood a little librarian glaring at me as she curtly said, “Can’t you see these are administrative offices?” I bubbled out an “I guess so.” Then she looked over Eban head to toe (not once but twice with her beady eyes) and glared back up at me and said, “That boy needs shoes on. It’s library policy.” I told her okay as I was then focusing on her behavior and not my son’s. Then she decided to add nonchalantly, “Is he okay?” in the most uncaring or uncompassionate way. This irked me. I told her he was fine as curt as she was (maybe just as snide as she was). So I put Eban in a great football hold, picked up his shoes and loudly asked, “Why would they have the administrative offices in the children’s section as this is bound to happen?!” So I know I didn’t react in the most positive way. I was just not impressed whatsoever by the way this woman handled it and I sunk to her level and let her behavior be infectious. Please tell me this has happened to others who read this as they were trying to make an important lesson into their kid’s life and then they botched the lesson due to distractions??! Mind you, I’m a huge advocate and supporter of literacy projects and libraries, but it will take me awhile before I ever set foot into the Deerfield Public Library again. It’s too bad. Like I say, it’s not the situation that matters; it’s your reaction to the situation. Ugh, I know better.

Then a highlight of the day was swimming. Eban loved swimming at Tutu’s clubhouse pool with Uncle Steve. He threw him so high and Eban kept saying MORE MORE MORE.

Eban was also allowed to sit on Uncle Steve’s motorcycle and you could tell how cool he thought he was. Funny stuff! As Uncle Steve left that night, Eban sassily put his hand on his hip and told him to, “Be careful. Be careful on your motorcycle and watch out for tornados.” I guess Eban didn’t forget about the numerous tornados we had in June when he was talking to Uncle Steve.

The last morning of our visit was unplanned and all Eban wanted to do was go down to Uncle Steve’s. So off we went and his favorite place was the floor of his garage playing with trains. He couldn’t have been dirtier or happier. We had Chicago style pizza and during lunch we were laughing at Eban’s response which we all couldn’t remember earlier in the day as he was mad about the fact that we moved his “awesome shoes” (a.k.a. Nerf Flip Flops). He piped up with a mouth full of pizza and said, “I SAID, ‘What have you DONE?’” I was so impressed that he could remember exactly what he had said earlier in the day…he’s growing up!

Off we went to the airport and we sat down at Chili’s to have dinner. Of course I had their chips and salsa and got Eban mac and cheese. I wanted something healthy so I got a Caesar salad - - not that healthy, but it’s still a salad. Well, Eban LOVED it. He said it was his favorite dish on the table. To test him, I gave him Caesar salad when we got home and he ate the whole thing there too. So I guess my three-year old has a unique palate!

An act of random kindness occurred at the airport. It was like a double-edged sword though. In the airport gift shop, I was buying water and snacks for our flight when Eban decided he wanted a big United plane toy. Of course, it’s only $30.00, but still, I thought he didn’t need it. So I flatly told him no. Talk about an epic meltdown in public…ugh! So he pulls a ginormous tantrum in the middle of the hallway at O’Hare. People were walking by and he was flat on the floor throwing his fists on the ground because he was mad about the fact that I wouldn’t get him a plane. Some people smiled knowingly at me - - others got wide-eyed as they looked from this little demon to me. So after two minutes of agony, I picked him up and brought him into the girl’s bathroom and all the stalls were taken. So I went into a corner and he is still bawling and screaming at me. I am calmly telling him no, no and that he can’t get everything he wants…when suddenly, a plane appears in front of my eyes. I look behind me and it’s a kindly woman holding the middle-sized plane toy from the shop. She said, “Here you go, honey.” I looked at her and then looked at him and he flatly said, “This isn’t the big plane toy.”

Ugh: A – I wanted to wallop him for being an ungrateful little boy. B – I wanted to thank her and hug her for doing an act of kindness and C – Her act of kindness was destroying any type of lesson I was trying to teach him on limits and getting what you want.

Then to top it off, as I was walking away to our terminal gate, a woman came up to me out of the blue and got in my face and told me to be glad that I have a screaming toddler as that means he’s normal. I shook my head in agreement wondering where this was coming from and she continued by saying her toddler has cancer and can’t scream and told me that I should embrace these moments. Interesting day to say the least –

Swimming with Uncle Steve